Leopold Schefer

Leopold Schefer (July 30, 1784 - February 16, 1862), German poet, novelist, and composer, was born at Muskau in Lower Lusatia, and educated at the gymnasium of Bautzen.

Related Topics:
July 30 - 1784 - February 16 - 1862 - German - Poet - Novelist - Composer - Muskau - Lusatia - Bautzen

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In 1813, he was appointed manager of the big estates of Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau. The prince, recognizing the literary abilities of his friend, encouraged his early poetical efforts. Having visited England, he studied composition under Antonio Salieri in Vienna, and travelled to Italy, Greece, Egypt, Palestine, and Turkey. Schefer returned in 1820 to Muskau, married, fathering one son and four daughters, and lived in easy - later on in poor - circumstances, following his literary pursuits, until his death.

Related Topics:
1813 - Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau - England - Antonio Salieri - Vienna - Italy - Greece - Egypt - Palestine - Turkey

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Schefer wrote a large number of short stories which appeared in several series, Novellen (5 vols, 1825-1829); Neue Novellen (4 vols, 1831 1835); Lavabecher (2 vols, 1833); Kleine Romane (6 vols, 1836 i837). The historical novel Die Gräfin Ulfeld (2 vols, 1834), and the piquant satire, Die Sibylle von Mantua (1852), were published separately. Some of his novels have been published in English, as e.g. Künstlerehe (1828, with deep insights into marriage life: The Artist's Married Life; being that of Albert Dürer, New York 1867, London 1895).

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But Schefer is less known for his novels (which are lacking in plastic power, but famous for his observative power), than for a volume of charming poems, Laienbrevier (1834-1835). These, owing to their warmth of feeling, keen psychology, and fascinating descriptions of the beauties of nature, at once established his fame as a poet. This vein he followed in later years with the poems Vigilien (1843), Der Weltpriester (1846), and Hausreden (1869). Encouraged by his friend, the poet Richard Georg Spiller von Hauenschild, known under the pseudonym Max Waldau (1822-1855), he published Hafis in Hellas (Hamburg, 1853) and Koran der Liebe (Hamburg, 1855) containing with their glowing descriptions of the East love poetry of a realistic and high order.

Related Topics:
Richard Georg Spiller von Hauenschild - Max Waldau

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A selection of Schefer's works, Ausgewählte Werke, in 12 vols, was published in 1845 (2nd ed., 1857). See Julian Schmidt, Geschichte der deutschen Literatur im 18. Jahrhundert, vol. ii.; Emil Brenning Leopold Schefer (1884), and Ludwig Geiger in: Dichter und Frauen (1896).

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There is no study about Schefer in English, but consult Bettina Clausen & Lars Clausen, Zu allem fähig: Versuch einer Sozio-Biographie zum Verständnis des Dichters Leopold Schefer, 2 vols, Bangert & Metzler, Frankfurt a.M. (1985).

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